AUCKLAND.

NZ Truth, Issue 477, 8 August 1914, Page 10

AUCKLAND.

UNIVERSITY CHAMPIONS,

The long-looked -for match between University and City, to decide the Championship for 1914, was the big attraction to rugby enthusiasts on

nEroSl^^Bn!lsnm^^M9WHHßProm/ ■beginning to end it was full of dasJh .and though the ground was against spectacular football, still making all -due allowances, there was any amount nice passing bouts. So even was the play throughout that there was only one score during the afternoon, 'Lambert dashing over about half-way through the first spell and scoring for 'Varsity. Though defeated, City had if anything, the best of the game and sheer "stiffness" only stopped them •from, scoring on more than oneoccasion. At- times the 'Varsity backs handled the leather m their brilliant style, but so also did the reds. In the back divisions -there was very little to pick and choose from, but m the forwards the City vanguard showed out best, particularly m the tight work. The • hooking was pretty even and the ball was sent out to the backs frequently, 'but the state of the ground necessarily affected the speed and there was an utter absence of players cutting m. -The kicking of both teams was rather good, some splendid line kicks being brought off, particularly by Moffitt [ Mackay, who turned out for 'Varsity, i was not up to his form of last season, ! but nevertheless, put a lot of dash into his efforts, and on one occasion just imissed scoring after a brilliant followup. While City had, perhaps', a little the best of the -play, it/would have been hard luck for 'Varsity to have lost, for once they had a points margin m their favor, they kept City out by grit and a determined defence which seemed impenetrable. I say, seems, because City twice broke it down, but each time an infringement pulled the reds up. However, the, honors of the season go to the students and they are to be congratulated upon the success achieved. They are big favorites with the "fans." Their play is consistently bright, fast and spectacular. City, though defeated, put up some bigfights' during the' season, but their hardest game was that of last week, when they, lost the championship by the narrow margin of three points to nil.